In a compromised position

You groan as you slowly stir awake, your arm finding the touch of bare skin against a cold stone floor as you stretch your arms out. The sensation startles you, aiding in you coming to full alertness. Sitting up, looking around, you find yourself in a small spacess, built with geometric precision, with all walls and surfaces made of hard rock and carved stone. Warmth coats your face from a roaring fire nearby. Casual examination finds you to be completely naked, with no sign of your attire or weapons anywhere. The Queen is near you, still contently asleep. Seeing her alive and well warms you more than the fire, though anxiety starts to fill in. Still deep in slumber, she gently turns towards you, revealing herself to be nude as well, inadvertently expsoing her lovely breasts to you. With the soft glow of the fire, it was a welcome, if awkward sight, and one your body reacted to on its own, without your permission. Your begins rise and harden quickly, and with nothing available for you to hide it. This is incredibly embarassing for you; you shouldn't be getting aroused by the Queen, even if she is gorgeous...

Dwelling on her beauty leads to another spike in embarrassment, as a great thud of the door reveals a female dwarf entering the room. Stocky and strong as the men, her long brown hair was pulled back in an intricate set of braids.

"Ahhh, I see the two of you are awake. Good news all, and not a moment too soon."

"No, she's still asleep" you say quietly, motioning towards the Queen.

"Oh, I know" she replied as she moved about the room, grabbing an assortment of knick knacks, pausing only to look at you, her eyes scanning the entirety of your form "At ease there soldier" she had a slight chuckle from her own remark "There won't be any of that now, going on in these parts. Not that I wouldn't fault you none. She'll certain expand your clain by a good margin, especially with them birthing hips"

"No, sorry," you reply quickly in defense "you don't understand. She's not my wife"

"Pffff" she replied with a laugh as she placed some sheets on a nearby table "as if that were ever a requirement. I'd get moving on that, before someone smarter and better looking than yourself comes along"

"She's my Queen" you finally let out, louder than you intended. The lady dwarf stops in place for a moment, slowly looking back and forth from you and Version. THe silence in the room was palpable as she put things together. Like a crack of thunder, the silence was broken by an eruption of laughter, that only abated as she left the room.

You're left alone to fume over the stranger's intransigence. You're thankful that at the very least, Queen Vercion still sleeps contentedly, beautifully even. Despite the embarassment, your erection is still raging hard, and your aroused state leads you to think of little else. It would be so easy to move to the next step, you know, but you're not that kind of man. Recalling your dream during the storm, you realize that this can't be. You don't have romantic feelings for her, not yet, but physical intimacy with the person you're responsible for and a subject of is not allowed.

There's a loud knock on the door, pulling your attention away. The sound of high pitched giggling causes you some suspicion, and you open the door slowly. With only your head visible, you see two young dwarf boys, carrying items in their hands. The lead carried a stack of folded cloth, and the other brought a heavy platter of food.

"Gooday" the first said "we were told to bring these to the two humans"

"Well, you found us" You say with a smile, which they were both eager to see and smiled back "Thank you kindly, young sirs. Please leave them by the door, we'll grab them in a moment"

The young lads did as requested, being ginger and respectful with the items. No sooner were both free of their loads than they ran off, giggling and pushing each other down the empty halls. You bring the gifts in, beginning with the clothes. They were a matching pair of long evening robes, though cut for dwarves, so they still don't cover you as intended, but they're enough to provide basic decency. The food on the other hand, was the real win. On a metal platter were two plates filled with food. You spotted in the variety of meats some roasted oxtail, the small portions of meat already falling off the bone without a fork. Gingerly taking a sliver with your bare fingers, it melts in your mouth immediately, causing you close your eyes involuntarily and grin. This is the best food you've eaten since you left the tournament, you realize. Putting your food down, you go to awaken your Queen."

Giving her a gentle nudge, you speak gently "good morning your Majesty. We've found the dwarves. There's some warm clothes and food for you, when you're ready" She stirs awake, gently. From behind, you hear a loud, gruff voice

"Technically, the dwarves found you" you turn around in a hurry, find a dwarf filling the doorway, glad in glimmering armor, contrasted with his ebony beard. "And with quite the story to tell, no less. Two humans, gone mad with frost bite to the brain, it would seem, speaking of Royalty and Empire."

You swallow hard at the recognition someone overheard the Queen's addled musings, and your angered rant before falling ****. _This is going to be difficult, _you tell yourself.

"That did happen, Master Dwarf" you look to the Queen, who was quietly, nervously robing herself. Adding to her defense "Her Majesty suffered from the cold, as all do, and it caused a lapse in sense and judgement, which is all fully in the past, we assure you."

"So you say, and yet I've not heard a word from your Queen, or from this Kingdom you claim as your own"

The Queen spoke up for herself "Sir, I am Vercion, Queen of the Diamont City, and this Sir Michael Mastbreaker, my rescuer and guardian as we seek to reforge old alliances"

The dwarfs eyebrows raised slightly at her word choice. Stepping forward, his resplendant armor clanking with every step, "These are dangerous claims to make. Are you familiar with the Grudges? Our penalties for lies and betrayal?" you both shake your head no, to which he continues "They are severe, and expansive. Those found to be trading in lies are banned from Dwarvish holds, forever."

"We aren't lying" Vercion declared loudly before you could do the same

"Than, pray tell, how does the lost heir to the Diamond City, whose line vanished more thana century ago, magically sprout from thin air, and on the doorstep of the Coalskin hold, the last of her allies?"

Neither of you are able to provide an answer as he sits down at a table "If I were a human and the type to make a con, it would look and sound much like what you do are claiming right now."

"Than why help us?" You ask, anger slipping through "Why waste resources on two liars?"

"Because I'm inclined to believe you" he replied with a slight chuckle "your Lady's golden eyes were all the evidence that I needed. Legends say that when our two nations forged our alliances, it was done hear, near our foundries. A speck of molten gold entered her eyes, blinding her in one eye but bestowing golden pupils an all of her descendants thereafter. Liars are not, we also have common cause. My clan is not concerned with matters of human politics, but rekinding old friendships? Bringing back trade with the outside world? It is not only to our benefit, but our obligation."

"That is our goal" The Queen began "but we cannot do this alone. The Diamond City couldn't have been the majestic land it was without dwarves, and we can't rebuild it ourselves. WIll you help us, Master Dwarf?"

"You may call me Braun, son of Vaun, son of Graun. I believe you both, but I'm not the one you have to convince. I have the ear of the one who does, the Lord of our clan."

"May we speak with him, so that we may make a positive impression? From one sovereign to another?"

Braun gives a short but hearty chuckle "My are you brave to ask such a thing. You have nothing to offer."

"You have debt to pay" you reply as you stand up defiantly "your ancestors promised to stand with us until the end, and when we needed you the most, you stayed your hand. The bill has come due."

The dwarf stood in response, his eyes glaring "caution, boy. You are outside your depth on this matter. If you wish to consult the Tome of Trades, you'll have to earn it. You've got a strong arm and a sturdy back, obviously, we have need of both. It's dangerous, but you don't seem to be the type to have much fear."

You look to the Queen, who is more visibly frightened than you, but she gives you a gentle nod.

"For my Queen, I will do anything."

"On your head than, Mastbreaker. Eat your fill, than come with me."